The Ythan and Lower Tweed river catchments have joined the River Tyne in Significant level for water scarcity, with The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) now imposing suspensions on water abstraction licences in all three areas. SEPA is suspending most water abstraction licences in the Tyne catchment in East Lothian, River Ythan catchment in Aberdeenshire, and the Lower Tweed area in the Borders. Suspensions have been lifted in the Upper Tweed.
Evidence clearly indicates suspensions are necessary to protect the sustainability of local water environments following weeks of prolonged dry weather and critically low river and groundwater levels.
SEPA continues to engage directly with businesses affected, advising suspensions will be for the minimum time necessary and will be lifted as soon as possible.